January 19, 2013

Much of the answer lies in realising the full potential of digital technology and the internet. They already provide access to vast resources of information, most of it free. But not all this data is reliable, and even credible information is only a stepping stone to real knowledge. That’s why, a decade ago, Massachusetts Institute of Technology made all its educational materials available online – for free. About 300 educational institutions have followed since, including Delft University of Technology, where I am secretary general. Together, these institutions created the OpenCourseWare Consortium, which now provides some 21,000 courses. Instead of searching the internet for information, learners across the world can now access focused courses, along with support materials such as sample tests that organise information into coherent blocks of knowledge. This has played a pioneering role in what is nothing less than a global educational revolution.